I've been tinkering with personal menu and noticed that, while I can indeed remove the web and email menus from my nit, I can't remove the applications menu, even if I enable personal menu. Anyone know how to get rid of the applications menu? They it seems a bit redundant with the personal menu.

Its been tried, (see personal menu thread), but it seems even if the file is edited to tell the system that its not mandatory to have the application menu it still appears, it is hard coded in from what a couple developers that have looked into the matter have told me.

probably done so that no newbie would shoot themselves in the foot by disabling all access to launching programs.

Well, I would think that something like that could easily be overcome by making the application menu easily able to be restored from the desktop. IE, treat it like a widget that can be turned on and off from the main menu just like you can turn other desktop apps on and off. Since the main menu will always be there, it would be a fallback option.

Seriously, if the lack of ability in removing the apps menu is to protect newbies, then just add another out for them in another area. It's not rocket science. I've done that plenty of times when designing similar systems for other UI's. It's sometimes referred to as the "life preserver principle". IE, allow them to sink their boat if they really want to, but always have that life preserver nearby so they can keep from drowning.